Electrical process of producing villous or pubescent synthetic yarn



W. R. M LAlN me VILLOUS OR PUBESCEN T SYNTHETIC mm File d No .4, 1943 INVENTOR these operations are extremely the various modifications of the in which the I which the yarn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL PBOC VILLOUS B PUBE YARN William B. Eastman McLain,

Kingsport, Tenn., Kodak Company,

ESS

SCENT SYNTHETIC OF PRODUCING assignor to Rochester, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application November 4, 1

2 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of synthetic yarns and more particularly to the production of cellulose acetate and other synthetic yarns having a villous or pubescent character and otherwise closely simulating its physical characteristics.

As is well known, numerous processes have been proposed forthe manufacture of synthetic staple fiber yarns from continuous filaments. Without exception, such processes have involved, either the cutting of the filament material into the desired staple lengths by means of knives, abrading devices or equivalent means, or have involved stretch-breaking. In the latter method strand are broken,

less predeteron the res can be employed in a textile process,

picking, carding,

gilling, reducing, rovthe final spun yarn. processes require the use of a great deal of complicated machinery which is expensive to operate and maintain, but many of injurious to the fiber material and reduce itseffectiveness for the intended use. While other methods for obtaining a true,

so-called Perlok process, have eliminated most tions just referred to, nevertheless they do have are unavoidwould otherwis possess. Ev

filaments are actually cut, as by rough stone or'other abrasive material, certain very distinct disadvantages are encountered- For example, the control of an abradin surface, such as the surface of a roughened stone ring over passe to keep prevent its wearing slick is extremely dimcult in mill operation. Furthermore, even in such an abradina operation, the yarn is subiected'to a relatively severe amount of tension or stretching as it passes over the abrading surf The present invention vide a process for converting a strand of contlnuous filament synthetic yarn. suchas a yarn spun yarn in or simulated spun yarn, such as' of the operait uniform and.

see. has as an object to pro-.

943, Serial No. 508,978

of apparatus composed of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivative material, to dition in which it simulates natural spun yarn, without the disadvantages inherent in the prior referred to above. A further object is to provide a process for producing a villous or pubescent type of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivative yarn which, not only avoids the complicated procedures involved in converting continuous filament yarns to spun yarn by the mechanical cutting method, but also results in the production of a fibers or segments of the product have not been caused to deteriorate by undue stretching. A still further object is to provide a of producing a simulated spun yarn by a cutting method which is simple to operate and easily controlled. Other objects will appear hereinafter. These objects are ing invention which, in its broader aspects, involves passing a strand of cellulose acetate or other synthetic filaments under very ,light tension between the electrodes of a high potential 'merely for purposes of illustration and not as a limitation thereof.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one form which may be employed in the carrying. out of the invention. 7

Fig. 2' is an elevational'view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is s. wiring diagram of an electrical circuit which may be employed to actuate the electrical cutting means of Figs. 1 and 2-.

Fig.

4 is an illustration in greatly exaggerated proportions, of a segment of villous or pubescent yarn which has been produced in accordance with the invention.

My invention may be readily understood by refer'ence to the drawing In Figs. 1 meral I designates a strand conta'ning a plurality of This strand is carried between I in contact one with mounted and driven by means not may, if desired, be covered with any appropriate material to facilitate grippi g of the yarn and passi g it on to the delivery rolls.

8ft procedures accomplished by the followand 2, the nusets of rolls are preferably operated 20 set of rolls might be employed with substantially the same results as are obtained with two sets of rolls.

The linear speed of the yarn, the voltage of the current supplied to the electrodes and the amount of twist applied to the am may be controlled 30 primary which may be provided with con-' while I3 is the 20,000-volt secondary supplies electrodes 6 and 1. His hich operates to build up and collapse the electrical field.

e apparent from the'above discussion my invention by reference to the of continuous filament cellulose acetate yarns. yarns composed of other cellulose derivative materials, such as cellulose tate propionate, cellulo cellulose ethers, viscose thetic materials may be cility.

ferent effect materials.

One of the outstanding advantages of the arc tial electriqcurrent.

2.- The process of cent yarn closely be are formed between two electrodes supplied with an electric current having a potential of approximately 20,000 volts.

WILLIAM R. MCLAIN. 

